4 hours ago
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Veteran Nollywood actor and multi-award winner, Charles Awurum talks about his love for Arsenal, the Super Eagles team, his early playing days in the Principal’s Cup in 1979, and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO
Did you play sports when you were in school?
Yeah when I was in school, I played for Ansar Ud Deen High School then during the Principal’s Cup around 1979. I played as a right-winger or right-back sometimes. I was a good player, if not I would not have made the team that went to the competition. We didn’t go that far in that competition though because the likes of CMS were there and those were the tough teams then, too good at that time.
Was there a point you wanted to pursue football?
My father did not give me the chance to do that because his own was you better study well if you like, play football but you just have to pass so we spent most of our time studying than playing football.
Do you ever regret not pursuing a career in sports?
If football was the way it is now back then, I would have thought of having a career in it but it was not like this then. It was not so easy back then to move forward in the game of football, the best we could do then was just focus on our studies and grow our talents.
What is your favourite team?
Now, my favourite team is Arsenal. I have been supporting them for many years now.
What led to you supporting Arsenal?
Why I really entered Arsenal or started supporting Arsenal was because of Kanu Nwankwo, that is why I was so much in love with Arsenal. And even after Kanu left the club, I still supported the club. Kanu is always my favourite player though.
How do you feel about your recent success in the league?
I am so happy about it because, you know, there was a time that Arsenal used to make us cry. In those days, they were not consistent; sometimes you see that they will do well, and then they will do badly. At least they have always been trying, rarely going out of the top four.
Are you a big fan of the Super Eagles?
Even if I don’t watch other teams, I must watch the Super Eagles when they are playing, even up until now, if the Eagles are playing, I watch, whether they are messing up or messing down, I must watch them. They are my team, I really support the Eagles, and I can go with them to anywhere. The only difference is that now whether they win or lose, it doesn’t bother me much but then if they lose, I feel so bad. The reason it doesn’t bother me much anymore is that they are making their money and I am crying, for what reason? They can’t be making the money they’re all making, all of them are billionaires and I will now be crying that they lost. If they know that they are out there to make money, let them go there and make the money. So, if they that are directly concerned are not bothered, is it me that will be bothered? The thing is that we have players but that push is not there, we have good players in the Eagles squad but that push is not there, I don’t know why it is not there, that determination to really succeed is not there.
Do you think that the quality of football has dropped between the time of the old Eagles and now?
I will say the enthusiasm for football in Nigeria has dropped because most of the players don’t really know what they want; they just go to play and come back, whether they lose or not, they don’t care. Before people play with all their might, all their strength, and everything about them to bring some faith in football in Nigeria. Now, no, they just wear their jersey, go to the field and come back, look at how we didn’t qualify for the World Cup and I am not really sure they are that bothered.
So what do you think about our chances to qualify for the World Cup?
I think it will be very very hard for us to qualify because we are in a tough position. But we also have a new coach (Eric Chelle) so if these boys can quickly click with him, then we may have more hope. After the next qualifier games, then we will know where we stand.
Who do you think was the best African player of all time?
I think it was Jay-Jay Okocha, he is someone that I liked and did a lot for Nigeria and football as much as he never won the Best African footballer award, I don’t know how those that picked were rating them back then but up till today, I still feel he is supposed to have won because he was one of the best players of his generation.
Who do you think is the best footballer of all time, some say Lionel Messi, and some say it is Cristiano Ronaldo?
Nothing about some here, there is no argument to be had. Messi is the best player of all time, he is the best, he is a footballer, and any other person is just trailing behind him. No, it is not close at all, no other person is close, and they are just strolling. All that one Ronaldo is doing is luck, it is not like he is a very fantastic player, it is just luck and determination, he is somebody that can do anything because of football, so it rewards him.
If any of your children wanted to pursue sports, would you support them?
I make my money with my acting talents and I was never discouraged from pursuing my talent and career in acting by my father, so if my children have these talents, why not? My father did not stop me from doing what I wanted so why will I stop my children from doing what they want to do?
Do you still participate in sports sometimes?
Yes, I jog sometimes, it is necessary for someone of my age to participate in these things to keep the body healthy.
English (US) ·